Alfred Hitchcock Blogathon – Marnie (1964) – Cinema Parrot Disco

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For our 49th review of Alfred Hitchcock’s film, I am pleased to present a review by Table9Mutant of Cinema Parrot Disco of Marnie. If you don’t already follow her blog, I urge you to do so, she has some great stuff including CPD Classics, IMDB Top 250 Challenge, lots of great movie art and of course excellent movie reviews!

Thanks for taking part Mutant!

Marnie (1964)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starring:
Tippi Hedren
Sean Connery
Diane Baker
Martin Gabel

Running time: 130 minutes

Plot Synopsis: (via IMDB)Mark marries Marnie although she is a habitual thief and has serious psychological problems, and tries to help her confront and resolve them.

My Opinion:

Look at that plot synopsis. Sounds like MY marriage! Bwahaha! Okay, my hubby is now nodding his head in agreement. (To be fair, I’m not a thief…)

Okay – I’m a big Alfred Hitchcock fan. When I started my IMDB Top 250 Challenge, one of the first things I did was finish watching the Hitchcock films in the Top 250 that I’d actually not yet seen. When Rob & Zoe announced a Hitchcock Blogathon, I knew I’d want to grab another one of the few I had yet to see. So I picked… Frenzy! That’s right – I’ve not seen Frenzy. Still. Because someone came along later & threatened to strangle me with a necktie if I didn’t give up my chosen movie. (You know who you are!) 😉

I was intrigued by the fact that Marnie stars Sean Connery. I’ll be honest – I’ve not seen him in THAT much (including his James Bond movies). He certainly had a sexy sort of suave thing going on so I can see why he played that famous misogynist. In Marnie, I thought he fit his role quite well. Like with James Bond, though, there are times I found his character’s treatment of Marnie disturbing. I find it very hard to review Hitchcock films as I think it’s especially important to avoid spoilers, so… All I’ll say is that he’s fascinated by the study of psychology and animal behavior and Marnie feels like just another thing that he can study. Is he sincere? Does he love her or is he using her? I’ll leave that for you to find out…

Tippi Hedren does a good job here in a role very different from the confident woman she played in Hitchcock’s The Birds. It’s of course a mystery as to why Marnie has so many psychological problems, such as a fear of thunderstorms and the color red, and I felt that the film had a satisfying explanation & conclusion (unlike a lot of thrillers nowadays). In true Hitchcock form, we don’t know who to trust and what the true intentions are of either of the two main characters. Once again, Hitchcock keeps us guessing (and hooked) until the very end.

Summary:

I’m not sure why Marnie isn’t quite as big as some of Hitchcock’s other films. It’s indeed another great psychological thriller from the “master of suspense”. I always enjoy movies that explore the mind & someone’s descent into madness and Marnie certainly fits the bill. Although I did think the two main stars did a decent job, I do feel they both lack the charisma of some other Hitchcock favorites (James Stewart, Cary Grant, the stunning Grace Kelly…). Also, as I’ve said, some of the ways in which Connery’s character treats Hedren’s are a little uncomfortable but I know it was a different time and that the same can be said of other Hitchcock films (and a modern movie would handle certain things far less delicately). It’s a very solid story and I really enjoyed it. It’s no Rear Window or Psycho but, hell, those are pretty hard to top! I’d definitely recommend Marnie to Hitchcock fans but, to those without much Hitchcock experience, I’d suggest starting with some of the more well known films first.

Cool stuff!! I’ve got Rope/Rear Window (can’t decide which is first yet) up next but perhaps this will sneak in third. I’m definitely going to start with his bigger titles and work smaller. Should be a lot of fun, not sure if or where I’ll review them but if I do, ill let ya know!!!

Hmm. Both are very good films but very different. As you’re pretty new to Hitchcock, I’d say maybe Rear Window should be your next one. Rope is like watching a great play. I’m looking forward to loads of Hitchcock reviews from you now, Tom! 🙂 Marnie is good but not one of the first I’d recommend – I think you’re right to start with the most well known ones.

Great work lady. I must admit that I have not seen this one and I absolutely detest Sean Connery. Not that he is a bad actor or anything, but meh. I don’t like him. Thanks for joining in, and I am glad to see you did not take the necktie option… damn.

Thanks, Zoe! 🙂 You and Rob must be exhausted after this blogathon. Lol. Awww – you hate Connery? I can kind of see that (although, like Laura, I do love him as Indy’s dad). ; ) I don’t really feel one way or the other about him but he did say in an interview once that sometimes women need a good slap (or something. don’t think those are the exact words but it was something like that).

Anytime! 🙂 Phew, tell me about it! Yep, I really don’t like him. He was good as Jones Sr, but meh. Oh, trust me, I remember the quote all too well, one of the front runners of my dislike. I cannot abide an abusive man, and every time I see him I think of that. It does not help that most of his movies he is whacking some woman around.

I can certainly understand the hatred, then. Abusive men are pathetic. I haven’t watched any of his Bond films. I’m sure they’re fun but the way they treat women is… rather old fashioned (to be polite). The newer films haven’t been quite as bad when it comes to that.

Yep, you cannot call someone like that a man, and he was a bit extremely rough in his Bond films. Meh. I am not even a fan of him as Bond (yes, heresy, I know). Yes, the newer ones have handled it far, far better, though there are still moments that set my teeth on edge. Craig’s ones not so much.

I can see it being a favorite if it’s the first one you saw. : ) I actually got into his TV show first from a VERY young age (three specific episodes still haunt me to this day. Awesome stuff!). I’m glad I finally got around to watching Marnie – now I need to get around to watching a few more and I’ll at least have seen his most well known ones. : )